6 Javelinas seek Division II track and field titles

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Six Texas A&M-Kingsville men’s track and field athletes will try to bring home medals in five different events when the three-day NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships begin Thursday at Johnson C. Smith University.

The Javelinas will send a largely young contingent to nationals, with Calallen High School-ex Michael Price being the lone senior to qualify. The team is ranked 15th in the nation, and the top eight finishers in each event will earn points and be awarded All-America status.

Junior Connell Davis from Gregory-Portland is the highest-seeded A&M-Kingsville athlete at the meet. He is seeded second in the long jump with a leap of 7.51 meters (24 feet, 7.75 inches. Freshman C.J. Griggs enters as the 15th seed with a leap of 7.31 meters (23-11.75). Bowie State’s (Md.) William Bailey is the top seed with a jump of 7.59 meters (24-11).

A&M-Kingsville freshman Tommy Singletary is tied for the fourth seed in the 100 meters with a time of 10.41 seconds. Abilene Christian’s Desmond Jackson (10.31) is the top seed in the event.

The 400-meter relay team of Price, freshman Jonathan Woodson, Singletary and Davis enter nationals tied for fifth with a time of 40.76. Lincoln (Mo.) University has the top time this year at 40.13.

Freshman Sergio Rios, the Lone Star Conference champion in the 400 hurdles, heads to the championships as the 10th seed in the event. He has posted a time of 52.47 this year. Leford Green of host Johnson Smith leads the way at 49.46.

Griggs also has qualified in the triple jump. He was an All-American during the indoor season in the event and enters the outdoors as the 13th seed after leaping 14.95 meters (49-0.75). Josh Como of Cal State-Los Angeles has the best effort of 16.64 meters (54-7.25).

Preliminaries in the 100, 400 relay and 400 hurdles take place Thursday with the finals scheduled for Saturday. The long jump final is Thursday and the triple jump final is Saturday.